Mehdi sits next to 4 phonetic neighbors — Mahdi, Medhi, and Mehmet are the closest matches by sound. Most share Mehdi's Arabic-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"the rightly guided one"
"divine light"
"God is my judge"
"man of peace"
"the all-glorious, sublime"
"filled with divine grace"
"the green one, the verdant, the ever-living"
"righteous, meritorious"
"flint, thorn bush"
"one who resurrects, gathers on judgment day"
"West African form of Abu Bakr"
"lion"
"praiseworthy"
"safe, secure"
"persevering, steadfast"
"tribal or religious leader"
"exalted, high, elevated"
"abundance, growth, increase"
"gift, benefit"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Mehdi — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Arabic origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Mehdi.
Rhythm: Mehdi is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.